The Action Peoples Party (APP) has withdrawn its petition challenging the victory of APC’s Bola Tinubu in the February 25 presidential election.
At the pre-hearing session of the Presidential Election Tribunal on Monday, May 8, Obed Agu, APP’s lawyer, said instead of proceeding to the main hearing, parties can choose to settle disputes amicably.
Agu averred that Tinubu, his party the APC as well as the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) should concede to the claims of the petitioner considering the weight of claims against them. The court then adjourned the case for further pre-hearing.
At the resumed court session on Wednesday, May 10, Agu moved an application to withdraw his client, the APP’s petition. Counsel to INEC, Abubakar Mahmoud, counsel to APC, Lateef Fagbemi as well as counsel to Tinubu, Wole Olanipekun, did not oppose the application nor did they ask for cost.
Consequently, the petition was dismissed.
This withdrawal comes barely 48 hours after the Action Alliance (AA) also withdrew its petition against Tinubu and the APC. With the dismissal of two petitions, the court is left to determine three other petitions by Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the PDP; Peter Obi, candidate of the Labour Party (LP) and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
